Offshore Outlook Appears 'Strong', Say Analysts

The outlook for offshore oilfield service contractors is strong as more than 100 new projects are aiming for 2019 sanctions, according to Rystad Energy, a Norway-based energy research and consulting firm.

Offshore contractors have experienced four consecutive years of declining revenues, but those still standing can expect revenues to start growing again next year.

“The offshore service market is like a super tanker: It takes time to accelerate. The uptick in new projects in 2017, 2018 and now 2019 will be enough to turn revenue growth positive to mid-single digits as offshore capex is set to increase due to the recent years of capital commitments. And on top of that comes expected increase in operating expenses,” said Audun Martinsen, head of oilfield service research at Rystad Energy.

Oil and gas operators plan to sanction at least 100 offshore projects in 2019 after giving the green light to 90-plus projects in 2018. The projects on track to be sanctioned next year have total greenfield commitments representing about $120 billion.

Despite the fact that oil prices have come down during the fourth quarter of 2018, with Brent Blend now commanding only about $60 per barrel, operators still plan to spend more next year and move forward on project sanctioning.

"More than 85% of the projects that we expect to be sanctioned in 2019 will generate returns greater than 10% even at current oil prices, as development costs have been reduced by as much as 30% since 2014," it said. Unit prices in 2018 were down at levels not seen by the offshore market since 2006, which naturally has positive implications for the breakeven prices of the projects in question.

“Offshore operators are quite trigger-happy on FIDs these days, despite the recent reduction in oil prices. 2018 saw the lowest obtainable unit prices since 2006, as much as 30% down from the peak in 2014, and that makes their cost per barrel and breakeven prices highly favorable. Couple that with one of the most profitable years for E&Ps in decades in 2018, and the recent production cut agreement by OPEC and Russia – offshore operators want to focus on field development again,” Martinsen added.

According to Rystad Energy, 30% of 2019 projects value sits in Middle East, 25% in South America, 15% in both Africa and Asia, and the rest in Europe and North America combined.